A rare error by Blues skipper Kenny Cunningham led to the fourth-minute opener as the Gunners extended their unbeaten start to a record 13 matches.

Arsenal were without Lauren, Martin Keown, Patrick Vieira and Ray Parlour - all suspended after September's brawl at Old Trafford. But even a weakened Gunners side was rarely threatened by Birmingham.

Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry wrapped up the points for the visitors - both grabbing goals inside the final ten minutes.

Everton struck twice in three first half minutes to earn a 2-0 win over struggling Wolves.

Both sides started the game in the bottom three but Tomasz Radzinski and Kevin Kilbane made Wolves pay for some woeful defending and brought a smile to the face of Everton boss David Moyes who had seen his side score just once in their previous five league games.

Leeds' bleak season plumbed new depths as two first-half goals in the space of a minute from Kevin Davies and Stelios Giannakopoulos gave fellow strugglers Bolton a comfortable 2-0 victory.

Leeds caretaker manager Eddie Gray attempted to salvage the situation in the second half by switching to a 4-3-3 formation. The Elland Road crowd urged the team forward but they were unable to find the back of the net.